French toast is one of those breakfast items that most people tend to order in restaurants rather than make at home. The folks at Taco Guild whip up a mean coconut French toast for their Saturday and Sunday brunch, but market chef Dan Santos has gladly shared the recipe for those who want to try their hand at griddling the bread at home.

When making the recipe, be sure to let the bread get stale before plunging it into the tres leches custard, because if it’s too moist, the custard won’t sink in, Santos says.

Taco Guild serves the dish with a spiced syrup laden with cinnamon, cayenne and black peppers, brown sugar and butter, which gives it both earthy and spicy notes. But if you don’t want to go to the trouble, this French toast goes down just fine with plain old maple syrup.

Preparation: Crack eggs into a medium-sized bowl. Whip until fluffy. Add in the spices and whip until combined. Add in the remaining ingredients and whip to combine. Transfer to a bowl with a lid and store in the refrigerator until ready to use.

Preparation: Spread the butter substitute/oil blend on a flat pan. Press the dried bread into the custard. Lay the soaked bread on the oiled pan. Allow to cook until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes. Flip and cook until golden. Dust with powdered sugar. Put the topping in the center of the French toast. Serve with syrup and butter.

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